Interlocking mechanism for automatic voting machines



Oct. 19, 1965 o. F. SWANSON 3,212,703

INTERLOCKING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC VOTING MACHINES Filed June 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Oscar E Swanson ATTORNEYJ Oct. 19, 1965 o. F. SWANSON 3,212,703

INTERLOCKING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC VOTING MACHINES Filed June 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Oscar E .Swansan ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,212,703 INTERLGCKING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC VOTING MACHINES Oscar F. Swanson, Jamestown, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Automatic Voting Machine Corporation, Jamestown, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 20, 1963, Ser. No. 289,306 7 Claims. (Cl. 23554) This invention relates to voting machines and more particularly to voting machine interlocking mechanisms which are capable of grouping and controlling the actuation of candidate voting keys.

The present invention primarily constitutes an improvement over earlier types of interlocking mechanisms disclosed, for example, in United States Letters Patent No. 1,031,184, issued July 2, 1912 to F. Keiper, United States Letters Patent No. 2,110,297 issued March 8, 1938 to A. N. Gustavson, United States Letters Patent No. 2,407,981 issued September 24, 1946 to A. N. Gustavson, and United States Letters Patent No. 2,437,521 issued March 9, 1948 to A. N. Gustavson.

With interlocking mechanisms of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned patents, interlocking rollers are arranged side-by-side in a row with their opposite cylindrical ends received in opposed side guide channels with each roller in the row being capable of abutting adjacently disposed rollers. Interlocking straps connected to the voting keys extend between the rollers and are raised by actuation of the voting keys to positions where enlarged portions on the straps laterally displace and spread the rollers apart. These interlocking rollers are grouped together between opposed stop abutment surfaces which limit the lateral displacement of the rollers in their side guide channels, and thus permit only a predetermined maximum number of straps to be raised. As a result, only a corresponding predetermined number of voting keys can be actuated in a single balloting operation.

A frequently occurring trouble with interlocking mechanisms of this type is that the interlocking rollers, when slightly jarred, often become dislodged and drop out of their guide channel thereby rendering the interlock mechanism ineffective to limit actuation of the interlocking straps to the desired maximum number and allowing the voter to actuate more than the permitted maximum number of voting keys. This troublesome condition arises when the spacing that can exist between adjacent rollers in certain balloting arrangements is large enough to permit the rollers to pivot suificiently far about axes extending normal to the longitudinal rolling axes that they become untracked and fall out.

In overcoming the foregoing shortcomings, it is the major object of the present invention to provide for an improved voting machine interlocking mechanism which is reliable in operation for a wider variety of balloting arrangements than the mechanisms of the prior art.

A more specific object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel roller type interlocking mechanism in which rod-like guide rails are mounted in opposed guide channels and interengagingly extend through annular grooves in the interlocking rollers to limit pivotal movement of each roller about an axis normal to the roller longitudinal axis and thus retain the rollers properly positioned in the guide channels.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel roller type interlocking mechanism which is easily assembled and which is specially constructed to eliminate the necessity of finishing the interengaging roller and guide channel component parts with close tolerances to thus reduce the cost of manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds in connection with the appended claims and the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a voting machine keyboard of the type to which the invention is applicable;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary interior rear elevational view of a voting machine incorporating an interlocking mechanism according to the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the interlocking mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 2 with portions of one of the roller guide plates broken away to illustrate interior details of the mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a right-hand end elevational view of the interlocking mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken substantially along lines 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a section taken substantially along lines 66 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 7 is a section taken substantially along lines 77 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, the reference numeral 10 generally designates an automatic voting machine incorporating an interlocking mechanism 12 constructed in accordance with the present invention. Machine 10 is provided with a conventional upstanding keyboard 14 from which a base wall 16 (FIGURE 2) rearwardly extend. Arranged in the customary horizontal rows across the face of keyboard 14 are a plurality of voting keys 20 (FIGURE 1) each having a manipulatable lever arm 22 fixedly secured to a pivot shaft 24 which is rotatably mounted in keyboard 14. Keys 20 are of conventional form and are swingable about the axes of their respective pivot shafts 24 to voting positions over the names of candidates located between adjacent rows of the keys. Each voting key shaft 24 is securely connected to a vertical interlocking strap 28 disposed at the rear of keyboard 14 and extending downwardly for operative connection with interlocking mechanism 12 which is preferably supported on base wall 16.

As is well known, the interlock mechanism 12 in which the present invention is incorporated, is adapted to control, and more particularly limit, the number of keys 20 that can be manipulated by a voter in a single balloting operation. The general structure of interlocking straps 28 and the connection with the candidate keys 20 is illustrated and described in the aforementioned Patent Nos. 2,110,297 and 1,031,184.

With reference now to FIGURES 3 and 4, interlocking mechanism 12 comprises a grouping channel structure 30 formed by parallel similarly constructed side plates 32 and 34. Side plates 32 and 34 are fixedly retained as a unit in spaced apart parallel relation by a pair of spaced identically constructed spacer and pin assemblies 36 and 37 positioned near the opposite ends of structure 30.

As best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, each assembly 36 and 37 comprises an annular rigid spacer 38 having oppositely directed flat end faces abutting the flat inwardly facing side surfaces of plates 32 and 34. Rigidly fixing each spacer 38 to plates 32 and 34 are a pair of pins or rivet members 39 and 40 formed with enlarged heads abuttingly engaging the exterior outwardly directed side faces of plates 32 and 34 respectively. Members 39 and 40 extend through plates 32 and 34 and into spacer 38 from opposite ends thereof with a press fit to thus fixedly secure plates 32 and 34 and spacers 38 together as a unit.

The grouping channel structure is supported at opposite ends on base wall 16 by means of a pair of identically constructed apart pedestal assemblies indicated at 41 and respectively connected to spacer assemblies 36 and 37. Since both pedestal assemblies 41 and their respec- 'below rollers 56. positions on keyboard 14 raises interlocking straps 28 tive connections to spacer assemblies 36 and 37 are the same, only the pedestal assembly connected to spacer assembly 36 will be described with like reference characters referring to identical parts of the pedestal assembly connected to spacer assembly 37.

Thus, with continued reference to FIGURES 3-5, the pedestal assembly 41 associated with spacer assembly 36 comprises a mounting rod 42 fixed to and perpendicularly projecting upwardly from a disk shaped support base 44 resting on base wall 16. Rod 42 extends between side plates 32 and 34 and freely through transverse openings formed in spacer 38. The upper end of rod 42 projecting above spacer 38 mounts a cotter pin 46 to retain the mounting rod and support base structure. A spring 48 mounted in surrounding relationship to rod 42 reacts against base 44 to bias spacer 38 upwardly and thereby yieldably urge the grouping channel structure 30 to a raised position above bottom wall 16.

With reference now to FIGURES 3, 4, 6 and 7, side plates 32 and 34 are respectively formed with horizontally extending roller quide channels 50 and 52 (FIGURE 4) which open inwardly in opposed parallel relationship to each other. Channels 50 and 52 which are formed to extend the full length of plates 32 and 34 are open at opposite ends and receive opposite enlarged end sections 54 of a series of one-piece interlocking rollers 56. Rollers 56 are arranged in a single horizontal row and extend transversely across the space between plates 32 and 34.

As best shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the end sections 54 of each roller 56 are provided with smooth cylindrical peripheries and are integrally joined together by an intermediate cylindrical section 58 having an appreciably smaller diameter than that of end sections 54.

With continued reference to FIGURE 7, each of the channels 50 and 52 receiving the opposite end sections 54 of rollers 56 are formed by opposed parallel flat upper and lower wall surfaces 60 and 62 and a flat back wall surface 64 perpendicularly joining wall surfaces 60 and 62. The end sections 54 of each of the rollers 56 are loosely received and supported in channels 50 and 52 in rolling contact with surfaces 60 to permit rollers 56 to be freely revolvable about their longitudinal axes for lateral displacement in opposite directions in common path essentially parallel with channel 50 and 52.

With continued reference to FIGURES 24, interlock ing straps 28 extend downwardly between adjacent ones of rollers 56 and into the space between side plates 32 and 34. Each interlocking strap 28 is formed by an upper elongated thin shank section 66 and terminates,

at its lower end, in an enlarged end portion 68 received between side plates 32 and 34. The enlarged end 68 of each strap 28 is integrally joined to the upper shank section 66 by a thin intermediate neck 70 formed by oppositely facing notched recesses 72 opening outwardly toward side plates 32 and 34, The width of neck 70 is smaller than the axial length of intermediate section 58 and is positioned axially inwardly of the opposite end sections 54 of each roller in spaced relation to the intermediate sections 58 of adjacent rollers 56.

With keys 20 in their non-voting positions, the necks 70 of interlocking straps 28 are located between adjacently disposed rollers 56 and end portions 68 are positioned Manipulation of keys 20 to voting to position the enlarged end portions 68 between .adjacently disposed rollers 56.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, the end portion 68 of each interlocking strap 28 is substantially thicker than neck 70 and is provided with a sloped camming surface 74 adapted to ride up over rollers 56 when the interlocking straps 28 are raised by manipulation of keys 20. Thus by manipulating one of the keys 20 to voting position to raise its associated interlocking strap 28, the enlarged end portion 68 of that strap will be raised to a position between the adjacently disposed rollers 56 to thereby 4, laterally displace and spread the adjacently disposed rollers 56 apart.

Under certain balloting conditions, it is desired to separate interlocking rollers 56 into two or more groups. This is accomplished by means of special grouping rollers 82 which extend across plates 32 and 34 at selected intervals to separate rollers 56 in groups of predetermined numbers. Each grouping roller 82 is normally fixed in place with its ends in channels and 52 by means of a pin 84 which projects through a straight longitudinal passage 85 formed in roller 82 and through aligned holes formed in plates 32 and 34. Except for the provision of passage 85, the configuration of grouping rollers 82 is otherwise the same as that of interlocking rollers 56.

As shown in FIGURE 6, each grouping roller 82 is formed with enlarged cylindrical end portions 86 received in channels 50 and 52 and integrally joined by an intermediate section 87 of reduced diameter. The diameter of end portions 86 are substantially equal to that of end portions 54 of rollers 56. The diameter of intermediate section 87, however, is somewhat greater than that of the intermediate portions 58 for rollers 56 in order to accommodate the formation of passage 85.

The open ends of channels 50 and 52 are blocked by end rollers 88 (FIGURES 3 and 4) extending at right angles across the space between side plates 32 and 34 and having enlarged opposite cylindrical ends 89 received in channels 50 and 52. End rollers 88 are fixed to side plates 32 and 34 as by pins 90 extending through rollers 88 and through aligned holes in side plates 32 and 34 to prevent rollers 56 from rolling out through the open ends of channels 50 and 52.

The interlocking structure just described is generally conventional, being disclosed in said Patent Nos. 1,931,184 and 2,110,297.

With the voting machine structure thus far described, it is evident that by properly proportioning the number of displaceable rollers 56 and straps 28, it is possible to laterally spread rollers 56 in each group by a distance only equal to the thickness of a predetermined number of interlocking strap end portions 68. When such a predetermined number of strap end portions 68 are raised to positions between rollers 56, it is clear that no further space is available to allow any additional end portions 68 to be lifted. Thus, it is not possible to actuate any additional voting keys 20 since upward movement of the straps 28 connected to these additional keys is now precluded by engagement with rollers 56 which are rendered laterally immovable by the straps 28 already raised. When voting keys 20 are in nonvoting positions adjacent rollers 56 are capable of directly abutting each other to form a rectangular opening through which one or more of the interlocking straps 28 extend. By raising one of the interlocking straps 28, the rollers 56 on either side of the raised interlocking strap to be laterally rolled apart about their longitudinal axes which are essentially parallel to each other.

As previously mentioned, one of the major difiiculties encountered with the interlocking structure thus far described is that the rollers 56 are easily pivoted to positions at acute angles with a plane extending perpendicular to channels 50 and 52 and, under certain conditions, there is sufficient space to allow rollers 56 to become dislodged and drop out of channels 50 and 52. This troublesome condition develops with prior art mechanisms particularly when it is required to space the interlocking pins 82 about 10 or more inches apart to provide for a desired balloting arrangement. In the present em bodiment, for example, if one of the rollers 56 drops out of channels 50 and 52, it is evident that more than the prescribed number of keys 20 can be actuated due to the resulting increase in spacing between the rollers.

In overcoming the foregoing problem, the present invention provides a pair of roller guide rails comprising straight retaining rods 94 and 96 having substantially equal relatively small diameters and being mounted in channels 50 and 52 respectively.

As best seen in FIGURES 6 and 7, retaining rods 94 and 96 rest on the fiat upwardly facing wall surfaces 60 of channels 50 and 52 respectively and extend substantially the full length of side plates 32 and 34 between end rollers 88.

With continuing reference to FIGURES 6 and 7, the opposite end sections 54 and 86 of rollers 56 and 82 respectively are formed with outwardly opening annular grooves 100. Grooves 100 are located about midway between opposite axially directed ends of each end portion of rollers 56 and 82 in a region vertically above surfaces 60 of channels 50 and 52. In assembled relationship, retaining rods 94 and 96 extend freely through the downwardly facing regions of grooves 100 to interengage with rollers 56.

With the present invention, it is not necessary to fix retaining rods 94 and 96 to their respective side plates 32 and 34. Rods 94 and 96 merely rest on the guide channel surfaces and are held in place against lateral movement by the fixed grouping rollers 82 which are spaced at selective intervals to divide interlocking rollers 56 into groups of selected numbers as required to meet different balloting conditions. Axial displacement of retaining rods 94 and 96 is limited by the fixed end rollers 88 which are formed, as best seen from FIGURES 4 and 6, without grooves in their respective enlarged end sections 89. End rollers 88 are otherwise of the same construction as grouping rollers 82.

Each of the grooves 100 is formed with a width that is just sufficiently large to permit rollers 56 to be freely rolled back and forth in the guide channels 50 and 52 without interference from retaining rods 94 and 96. With this interengaging rod and roller groove construction, it is evident that the angular distance through which each roller 56 can be pivoted about an axis extending perpendicular to the roller longitudinal axis, is limited to a negligible magnitude by the abutting engagement of the radially extending side wall surfaces of grooves 100 with retaining rods 94 and 96. As a consequence, rollers 56 are properly retained in position independently of the spac ing between pins 84 and cannot be pivoted suificiently to become dislodged from channels 50 and 52. Thus, any arrangement of rollers 56 and 82 may be employed without limitation due to the aggregate spacing between rollers 56 in a given group delimited by the fixed ones of rollers 82. The height of channels 50 and 52 between surfaces 60 and 62, it will be appreciated, need only be made sufficiently small to prevent rollers 56 from jumping the guide rods 94 and 96.

From the foregoing, it is clear that the grouping rollers 82 which are fixed to side plates 32 and 34 perform a dual function in that they not only divide the row of interlocking rollers 56 into isolated groups but also limit lateral movement of retaining rods 94 and 96 to thereby retain rods 94 and 96 properly positioned on channel surfaces 60.

In the assembly of interlocking mechanism 12, side plates 32 and 34 may first be secured together as a unit by spacer assemblies 36 and 37. Thereafter, retaining rods 94 and 96 are positioned in channels 50 and 52 by sliding the rods in from either of the open ends of channels 50 and 52. Rollers 56 and 82 are then inserted into channels 50 and 52 in a desired arrangement and end rollers 88 are then fixed in place to block the open ends of channels 50 and 52.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An interlocking mechanism for preventing the actuation of more than a predetermined maximum number 5 of interlocking straps in a voting machine, said interlocking mechanism comprising:

(a) a plurality of strap-locking rollers;

(b) means for supporting said rollers for limited rolling movement in a common path;

(0) said rollers being adapted to engage and limit displacement of a predetermined number of said interlocking straps;

(d) at least one elongated guide rail element extending parallel to said common path and being mounted on said means for supporting said rollers; and

(e) means forming at least one annular groove in the periphery of each of said rollers,

(f) said element extending through corresponding regions in each of said grooves in engaging relationship with said rollers to limit pivotable movement of each roller independently of each other about an axis extending normal to the longitudinal rolling axis thereof.

2. In a voting machine having a plurality of inter- 25 locking straps, an interlocking mechanism for preventing the actuation of more than a predetermined maximum number of said straps and comprising:

(a) a row of rollers having cylindrical end portions and being capable of contacting each other in side-byside relation;

(b) means supporting said rollers for lateral rolling movement in a common path and including opposed spaced apart guide channels freely receiving the opposite cylindrical end portions of said rollers;

.(c) said straps passing between said rollers and being actuatable to laterally displace said rollers,

(d) means for limiting rolling movement of said rollers along said common path and cooperating with said rollers and means on said straps for limiting the displacement of said straps to a predetermined number;

(e) means forming annular grooves in the peripheries of said cylindrical end portions of said rollers received in said channels; and

(f) a plurality of guide rails received one in each of said guide channels and extending through corresponding regions of said grooves in transverse relation to the longitudinal axes of said rollers for limiting pivotal movement of each roller about an axis extending normal to the longitudinal rolling axis thereof.

3. The voting machine defined in claim 2 wherein each of said guide rails comprises a rod and wherein means are provided for detachably retaining each rod in its respective guide channel.

4. The voting machine defined in claim 2 comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced apart grouping roller elements having opposite cylindrical end portions disposed in said channels;

(b) said rollers being disposed between said grouping roller elements with the outermost ones of said rollers being capable of abutment with one of said grouping roller elements;

(0) means fixing said grouping roller elements in place to limit lateral rolling movement of said rollers; and

((1) means providing further anular outwardly opening grooves in the cylindrical end portions in at least one of said grouping roller elements with said guide rails extending through regions of said further annular grooves and being retained against later displacement by abutment with the wall surfaces forming said further annular grooves.

5. In a voting machine having a plurality of voting keys,

a plurality of interlocking straps operatively connected to said straps voting keys and being displaceable by actuation 75 of voting keys to voting position, an interlocking mech- 7 anism operatively connected to said interlocking straps to prevent the displacement of more than a predetermined maximum number of said straps, said interlocking mechanism comprising:

(a) means forming opposed parallel spaced apart guide channels opening inwardly toward each other and having upwardly facing flat surfaces contained in a common plane;

(b) a plurality of strap-locking rollers forming a row transversely spanning the space between said guide channels and being disposed in side-by-side essentially parallel relation;

(c) each of said strap-locking rollers terminating at opposite ends in cylindrical portions supportingly received in said channels in rolling contact with said flat surfaces;

(d) said straps extending between said strap-locking rollers in the space between said channels and each having an enlarged end portion raised by actuation of an associated one of said voting keys to a position between adjacently disposed one of said straplocking rollers for laterally rolling and spreading said rollers apart;

(e) means for limiting the lateral rolling movement of said interlocking rollers to limit the maximum number of enlarged end portions on said straps that can be raised to positions between said strap-locking rollers and including a pair of parallel fixedlymounted stop abutment rollers disposed at opposite ends of said row and capable of abuttingly engaging the'outermost ones of said strap-locking rollers in said row;

(f) each of said stop abutment rollers transversely spanning the space between said guide channels and having opposite cylindrical end portions supportingly received in said channel in contact with said flat surfaces;

(g) means forming corresponding annular outwardly opening grooves in the cylinder end portions of at least one of said stop abutment rollers and each of said strap locking rollers with each groove being formed with spaced apart radially extending side wall; and

(h) an elongated guide rail resting on the flat surface in each of said channels essentially at right angles to the longitudinal rolling axis of said strap locking rollers and interengagingly extending through the corresponding regions of said annular grooves facing toward the channel flat surface;

(i) said guide rail being abuttable with said side walls of each of said grooves to limit pivotal movement of said interlocking rollers about axes extending normal to the longitudinal axes thereof, the abutment of said guide rail With the side walls of the grooves in said step abutment roller cylindrical end '3 portions confining said guide rail against lateral displacement in its associated channel.

6. The voting machine defined in claim 5 comprising a pair of members fixed to said guide channel forming means at opposite ends of said guide channels for limiting displacement of said strap-locking rollers and said guide rail in a direction extending parallel to the lateral rolling movement of said strap-locking rollers.

7. In a voting machine having a plurality of interlocking straps, an interlocking mechanism for preventing the actuation of more than a predetermined maximum number of said straps and comprising:

(a) a row of rollers having cylindrical end portions and being capable of contacting each other in sideby-side relations;

(b) means supporting said rollers for limited lateral rolling movement along a common path and including opposed spaced apart guide channels freely receiving the opposite cylindrical end portions of said rollers;

(c) said straps extending between said rollers and being actuatable to laterally displace said rollers;

(d) means for limiting lateral rolling movement of said rollers along said common path and cooperating with said rollers and means on said straps to limit the displacement of said straps to a predetermined number;

(e) means forming annular grooves in the peripheries of at least corresponding end portions of said rollers received in said channels;

(f) a guide rail freely received in the channel receiving the end portions having said annular grooves and being movable relative to said means supporting said rollers, said guide rail extending through corresponding regions of said grooves in transverse relation to the longitudinal axes of said rollers to limit pivotal movement of each roller about an axis extending normal to the longitudinal rolling axis thereof; and

(g) means for preventing displacement of said guide rail from its associated guide channel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 432,950 7/90 Merrill 308-6 933,372 9/09 Keiper 235-54 1,031,184 7/12 Keiper 235-54 1,222,876 4/ 17 Lewson 308-6 X 2,362,266 11/44 Gustavson 235-54 2,363,729 11/44 Gustavson 235-54 3,047,954 8/62 Hislop 308-6 3,093,424 6/63 Pernetta 308-6 3,101,978 8/63 Stallman 308-6 LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN INTERLOCKING MECHANISM FOR PREVENTING THE ACTUATION OF MORE THAN A PREDETERMINED MAXIMUM NUMBER OF INTERLOCKING STRAPS IN A VOTING MACHINE, SAID INTERLOCKING MECHANISM COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF STRAP-LOCKING ROLLERS; (B) MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID ROLLERS FOR LIMITED ROLLING MOVEMENT IN A COMMON PATH; (C) SDID ROLLERS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND LIMIT DISPLACEMENT OF A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF SAID INTERLOCKING STRAPS; (D) AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED GUIDE RAIL ELEMENT EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID COMMON PATH AND BEING MOUNTED ON SAID MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID ROLLERS; AND (E) MEANS FORMING AT LEAST ONE ANNULAR GROOVE IN THE PERIPHERY OF EACH OF SAID ROLLERS, (F) SAID ELEMENT EXTENDING THROUGH CORRESPONDING 